Africa Sets Sights on 2030 Development Goals with New Report

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has strengthened its partnerships with member states to promote youth employment and social protection across the continent. High-level discussions were held on the sidelines of the African Union Commission's Sixth Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment in Windhoek, Namibia. The ECA delegation, led by Director Zuzana Schwidrowski, met with ministers from The Gambia and South Sudan to explore deeper collaboration on women's economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and skills development. The talks focused on expanding pathways to sustainable livelihoods, improving institutional coordination, and mobilizing financing for social protection programs. The ECA expressed interest in showcasing South Sudan's experience in addressing youth unemployment in its forthcoming Economic Report on Africa. These engagements reaffirm the ECA's commitment to working with African governments and regional partners to promote inclusive development and strengthen social protection systems.

On International Youth Day, the Economic Commission for Africa highlights the aspirations and challenges of Africa's young people. Despite living in vastly different circumstances, they share common aspirations for relevant skills, decent work, and economic security. Recent focus-group discussions with young people in Ethiopia revealed a mismatch between education and labor-market needs, limited job opportunities, and constraints for young entrepreneurs. However, they also expressed interest in digital and flexible forms of work. The ECA is working to identify practical pathways towards productive youth employment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods, particularly in countries affected by conflict and fragility. Investing in Africa's young people is crucial for realizing the continent's demographic dividend and building a more prosperous and peaceful Africa.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is at the forefront of a global resource race, with the region holding a significant share of critical energy transition minerals. As demand for these minerals surges, SADC leaders have a window of opportunity to drive value addition, regional integration, and inclusive development. The continent is home to about 30% of the global reserves of critical energy transition minerals, including cobalt, copper, and lithium. With the International Energy Agency projecting that demand for these minerals could more than triple by 2030, SADC must invest in geological knowledge, act as a bloc, and develop a minerals compact to overcome structural challenges and seize opportunities. By moving beyond exporting raw materials and into processing, manufacturing, and technology development, the region can create sustainable jobs, stimulate local enterprise, and strengthen Africa's position in the global green economy.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is pushing for responsible mining practices to drive industrialisation and economic diversification. With the global demand for critical energy transition minerals on the rise, the region is well-positioned to benefit from its rich mineral resources. A recent project led by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) aims to promote responsible and inclusive energy transition mineral value chains across six SADC countries. The project focuses on developing ESG-compliant mining policies, improving environmental and climate monitoring practices, and ensuring local mining communities benefit from mining-related governance. By prioritising industrialisation through investing in infrastructure, skills, and transforming agricultural value chains, the SADC region can unlock its full potential and contribute to a clean energy future.

Uganda has embarked on a three-year initiative to strengthen climate resilience across its livestock, land, and insurance systems. The project, led by the Government of Uganda in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and other regional organizations, aims to transform food systems in the face of escalating climate shocks. The initiative targets four key areas: livestock value chains, climate-indexed livestock insurance, land tenure security, and climate-land information systems. By addressing these bottlenecks, the project seeks to deliver stronger value chains, better legal frameworks for trade, and targeted capacity-building across the system, ultimately repositioning livestock as a driver of inclusive economic growth, nutrition, and trade across the region.

The Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries has concluded with the adoption of the 'Draft Awaza Political Declaration' and the 'Awaza Programme of Action'. The documents aim to support landlocked countries in overcoming their geographical constraints and achieving sustainable development through stronger international solidarity, improved infrastructure, and increased investment. World leaders have committed to establishing regional agricultural research hubs, creating a high-level panel of experts on freedom of transit, and exploring the creation of an infrastructure investment finance facility. The conference also saw the announcement of a $10 billion infrastructure investment, highlighting the international community's commitment to supporting the development of landlocked countries.

The United Nations Security Council stressed the importance of ensuring that critical minerals benefit countries and communities, rather than financing criminals and conflict. With the demand for energy transition minerals set to triple by 2030, speakers highlighted the need for good natural resource governance to support development and peace. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that revenues from illicit exploitation are pushing peace out of reach, while World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the need to move from extraction to value creation. Delegates pointed to existing frameworks such as the Kimberley Process and the African Mining Vision, but also noted gaps and the need for stronger international governance. The Council must view natural resources as a major governance challenge of the century, and work towards a new international doctrine that prioritizes equitable benefit-sharing and peacebuilding.

Mozambique, rich in mineral wealth and boasting one of Africa's fastest-growing ports, is poised to move beyond raw material exports. The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has pledged support to help the country develop governance frameworks, negotiation capacity, and local content policies. This move aims to capture the full value of Mozambique's critical minerals, natural gas, and strategic transport corridors, potentially transforming it into a continental model for responsible, value-added mineral development. Discussions with government officials, the private sector, and investors focused on simplifying investment procedures, developing a one-stop investment platform, and integrating Special Economic Zones into the country's AfCFTA implementation strategy. With plans to scale up the Port of Maputo's container capacity, Mozambique is on the path to becoming an industrialization engine for Southern Africa.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and Mozambique have aligned on a shared vision for structural transformation, focusing on energy, agriculture, industrialization, digitalization, and tourism. During a high-level meeting, ECA's Executive Secretary Claver Gatete and Mozambique's President Daniel Francisco Chapo discussed the country's ambition to become a regional energy hub, leveraging its hydropower potential and ongoing LNG operations. The ECA committed to providing technical support, including a digital planning and implementation tracking platform, to help Mozambique turn its plans into results. With nearly 600 million Africans lacking access to electricity, Mozambique's energy resources are in high demand, making the quality of investment agreements and implementation oversight crucial. The partnership aims to drive economic growth, improve infrastructure, and strengthen Africa's collective voice in global economic governance.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has convened a four-day capacity-building workshop for the East African Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment. The workshop, held in Nairobi, Kenya, aims to enhance the Committee's understanding of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and its implementation. The AfCFTA Agreement recognizes Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as building blocks for continental integration, and the East African Community (EAC) is one of the most advanced in terms of economic integration. The workshop will support peer learning, experience sharing, and the identification of priority follow-up actions to inform the future work of the Committee. By strengthening the capacity of regional legislators, the ECA aims to support a more coordinated, inclusive, and sustainable implementation of the Agreement, advancing Africa's vision for an inclusive and prosperous continent.